O Great Lakes Recruit
THE GREATEST FLAG IN THE WORLD: I0,000 BLUEJACKETS FORMING A LIVING
EMBLEM OF THE AMERICAN UNION
This animated Stars and Stripes, formed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station,
covered an area of seven acres. The ball was composed of 250 men; the pole (not including
the ball) was 550 feet long, four feet in width at the bottom, six feet at the top, and required
700 men; I,600 men were required for the white stripes; I,goo for the red, 1,800 for the
stars, and 3,400 for the blue field. In order that the proportions should appear correct, many
niceties of perspective had to be solved. For example, the topmost star was composed of 65
men, in order that it might appear the same size as the star nearest the camera's eye, with
only 12 men.
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